When I was a kid growing up in the 1970s and 80s, there were no open discussions about mental health. Little boys like me somehow knew that crying was a sign of weakness.
Terms like ‘nervous breakdown’ were whispered by grown-ups when they thought we weren’t listening. We were told to keep away from the local man who walked the streets because he was ‘crazy’.
Despite reforms including the deinstitutionalisation of people in large psychiatric institutions and investment in community mental health, the stigma around mental illness remained high. People with mental health concerns remained marginalised and experienced discrimination in their private and professional lives.
It wasn’t until 1992 that Australia adopted its first National Mental Health Strategy. Coming off the back of the push for change, the strategy focused on community-based care and reducing the stigma associated with mental illness.
Not long after the flame went out on the Sydney Olympics and Paralympics, the Australian Government launched Beyond Blue. This was the first national initiative to improve mental health awareness and provide support for people experiencing anxiety, depression, and related issues.
Throughout the early 2000s, Beyond Blue focused on awareness campaigns to tackle the stigma surrounding mental health, particularly depression and anxiety. These campaigns were high-profile and encouraged open discussions about mental health in schools, workplaces, and communities.
Fast forward to 2024, and we have reached a point where there is a lot more discussion about mental health in our families, communities and workplaces. We have ways of describing how we are feeling, we have resources to support us, and we have progressively reduced the stigma associated with mental health.
But we are not there yet.
We need to keep the conversation going, which is why Mental Health Month is so important. This year’s theme is ‘Let’s Talk About It’, which aims to generate a wide range of conversations that promote understanding and support of mental health.
The National Stigma Report Card was developed by SANE Australia in partnership with the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences. Published in 2022, it researched the experiences of Australians living with complex mental health issues and the stigma and discrimination they face. The survey findings were disappointing.
38.3% of respondents reported experiencing exclusion from social groups or events due to their mental health condition.
47.6% felt that their mental health condition had made it harder to find a job, with many reporting that they avoided disclosing their mental health condition to employers due to fear of negative consequences.
Coupled with this is the high level of intersectionality between disability and mental health. People with Disability in Australia, published by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, reported that in 2020–21, 33% of adults with disability experienced high or very high psychological distress, compared with 12% of those without disability.
These statistics highlight the vital role that a Disability Employment Services provider can play in supporting employers and people with disability understand the unique barriers of having a disability and experiencing poor mental health.
My message to people with disability experiencing poor mental health and having trouble finding a job is to not give up hope. As Sean's story shows, working with providers like Castle and employers like Powerdown Australia, your dreams can come true.
We've seen first-hand the impact employment can have on the health and well-being of people living with disability and mental health conditions.
Ask us how we can support you to find and keep a job that is right for you.